“In the hush of morning light before the shutter clicks, the low hum of an engine stirs as the day begins, a hand rests on the shifter—steady and sure—and a spark flickers in their eyes as passion takes hold. These are the moments I live for. They’re quiet, unscripted, easy to miss—but they’re where the real story lives, and that’s where I want to meet you”

I’m Michael Hicks, a Midwest-based photographer and storyteller chasing the places where motion, memory, and emotion collide. Photography, for me, isn’t about freezing moments—it’s about feeling them. It’s about telling the kind of stories you can step inside. I’ve spent years chasing that feeling, from classic cars at first light to life aboard a working schooner to the quiet human moments most people walk right past.

I want to invite you into that world—not as an observer, but as part of the story itself. This isn’t about posing or performing. It’s about revealing something real: the way you’ve built your life, the beauty of what matters to you, the spark that makes it yours.

My approach is calm and collaborative, shaped more by curiosity than direction. Clients often tell me I notice what others miss—the gestures, textures, and unpolished moments that carry the most meaning. My work has been featured in editorial stories, brand collaborations, and creative travel projects throughout the Midwest and beyond.

But for me, it’s never just about the assignment. It’s about the connection—the chance to step into someone else’s world for a while, to see what they’ve built, and to tell their story with honesty and heart. These are the moments I live for.  Read to share you story?